Brussels, 09/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to estimates published by Eurostat, the EC Statistical Office, the volume of retail sales increased 1% in the euro-zone and 1.7% in the EU15 between October 1999 and October 2000. With 9.6% and 7.1% respectively, Ireland and Belgium have notched up bigger increases. Germany, on the other hand, (with -1.4%), and Denmark and Spain (each with -0.1%) have results that are below average.
Compared to September 2000, yearly growth rates were down 0.2% in the euro-zone and 0.1% in the EU15, this decline affecting all sectors. In October 2000, the highest growth rates were registered for "household goods" both in the euro-zone and the EU15. The food, drinks and tobacco sector increased by 1.2% in both areas; textile, clothing and footwear by 0.2% in the euro-zone and 2.5% in the EU15.